Guadalajara & Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
After 10 days in beautiful Mexico City, it was time to wave goodbye to a place that had seriously surprised us in a very positive way, despite the enormous jet lag we were still battling. We took a relatively short flight to Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-biggest city, where my brother Jan, his wife Iraís and their two kids, Nico and Anne, were due to arrive the same day, albeit a bit later. Iraís and her family are from Guadalajara, and part of our reason for heading there was the baptism of their daughter Anne and the big family fiesta that would follow. On top of that celebration, her family had planned a long weekend at a hotel in Puerto Vallarta, a lively coastal city on Mexico’s Pacific shore, which we planned to join. So, to summarize, the plan was to spend three nights in Guadalajara, take a bus to Puerto Vallarta for three more nights, then return to Guadalajara for an additional six nights before catching a flight to Tulum on Mexico’s east coast.
We met Itzel, a Mexican from Guadalajara, in Luang Prabang, Laos, and after a relatively short conversation she mentioned that she owned a flat in Guadalajara and invited us to use it during our stay in the city. What an incredible coincidence and what an incredibly kind gesture. We gladly accepted and ended up thoroughly enjoying our time in her comfortable apartment. Guadalajara had recently made global headlines: just a few weeks earlier the leader of a growing cartel had been shot and subsequently captured by Mexican police. In the chaotic aftermath, cartel members and affiliates clogged roads, torched vehicles and sparked widespread outrage across parts of the city. By the time we arrived, though, tensions had largely subsided; only an increased police presence hinted at the turmoil that had briefly gripped Guadalajara.
Itzel’s apartment was located in a quiet residential neighbourhood called Zapopan, conveniently situated for exploring the historic center of Guadalajara. Naturally, we were also eager to see my brother and his family after so long apart. After almost nine months on the road, being reunited with family felt especially warm, so on our first full day in the city we met Jan, Irais and the kids for some delicious, authentic seafood tacos. Guadalajara itself was founded in the mid-16th century during Spanish colonization and soon became the capital of the colonial province of Nueva Galicia, gaining importance early on. Today Guadalajara is home to around 1.4 million people; it serves as a cultural capital for the country as well as a major transport and logistics hub for western Mexico. In Tlaquepaque, the part of greater Guadalajara where we spent the second half of our stay, the colonial charm remains remarkably well preserved, making it one of the most atmospheric areas of western Mexico. Irais’ family lives there, so during our second week we were fortunate to spend more time with the Mexican side of the family. The major highlight was, of course, the baptism of my niece Anne Lise, which unfolded into a joyful Mexican fiesta complete with mariachis, tequila and plenty of laughter.
In between our two stays in Guadalajara, we took a bus with the entire family down to the West Coast of Mexico and spent a long, leisurely weekend at an All‑Inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta. It was a very welcome change from our previous budget‑driven style of travel, especially for the kids, who for three days hardly had to hear the word “no.” Mocktails? Absolutely. Burgers by the pool? Naturally. Dessert? Without question. The same relaxed indulgence extended to us parents as well. I started feeling guilty after twenty‑four hours, but thankfully my brother convinced me to go for an occasional run along Puerto Vallarta’s coastal line, which helped me feel a little more balanced.
In the meantime, we took a 2.5‑hour flight to Cancún a few days ago and then continued further south to Tulum, where my brother had rented a very nice house for our families; we’ve had a brilliant time there over the past four days. While they will fly back to Vienna tomorrow, we’ve decided to extend our stay in Tulum and will move into a smaller apartment to enjoy a bit more time in the sun. On top of that, a good old friend from our study days who now lives in Florida spontaneously decided to catch a flight and join us for a long weekend, which we are very much looking forward to. More on Tulum in my next update. Until then: Be well!
